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Have a high brow Halloween with Curzon Home Cinema’s ‘Stream and Scream’ collection

Now that we’ve given you a rundown of the irresistibly cheap thrills and deliciously bad taste horror on Amazon and Netflix this year, allow us to point you in the direction of some hair-raising Halloween programming for the more discerning film fan.

As of today and until November 9th, Curzon Home Cinemapresents its Stream and Scream collection, featuring a mix of tricks ‘n’ treats in the form of sci fi, mystery, international and documentary films. Here’s what Curzon has in store for those of you seeking a higher brow Halloween this year…

A terrifying exploration of real life incidents, Rodney Ascher’s The Nightmare recreates some of the worst visions had by people suffering from sleep paralysis; a phenomenon which approximately one third of the British population is said to have experienced, and which Wes Craven cites as his inspiration for Freddy Krueger and the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

Also from Rodney Ascher comes this documentary giving voice to some of the theories surrounding Kubrick’s iconic 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining. From Holocaust references to moon landing conspiracies, obsessive cinephiles offer their interpretations of what they believe to be the film’s hidden meanings; some of which have us rather convinced…

The low budget found footage film in need of no introduction, this worldwide phenomenon and its innovative marketing campaign pretty much sparked a new genre for a new century, and earned a seat at the ‘most profitable films of all time’ table. A must-see for the uninitiated, and well worth a revisit from the rest of us (now we’re reassured that it is in fact fictional – whew)!

Directed and co-written by giallo genre legend Dario Argento, this cult Italian horror sees a young Jessica Harper as an American ballet student, who discovers that her prestigious German dance academy is a front for something far more sinister. Featuring an original score from Italian prog rockers Goblin, no less.

Alexandre O. Philippe (The People vs. George Lucas) examines our fascination with the zombie genre in film, literature, and popular culture as a whole in this definitive documentary, featuring interviews with the likes of zombie trailblazers George A. Romero and Robert Kirkman, and actors Simon Pegg, Bruce Campbell and Judith O’Dea.

Otherwise known by its original title L’étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps, this international production follows an ordinary businessman who returns home to find that his wife has gone missing; the search for whom leads him to discover a complicated web of murder and deception.

Sam Neill is having some wife trouble of his own in this French-German horror, as his character’s wife leaves him and begins to spiral into madness. Yet upon hiring a private investigator to follow her, he soon learns she is hiding a much bigger secret than just another lover.

Toby Jones plays Gilderoy – a British sound engineer in a 1970s Italian horror studio – who uses real life torture methods to extract the sound effects he needs for the blood-drenched giallo thriller he is working on. A creepy anti-horror and a loving tribute to the genre at a snappy 92 minutes long.

“10 seconds: the pain begins. 15 seconds: you can’t breathe. 20 seconds: you explode”. The graphic below says it all, doesn’t it? Securing David Cronenberg’s notability to the ‘body horror’ genre, this audacious sci fi presents the ‘scanners’ – people with telepathic and telekinetic powers, whose thoughts can literally kill – and how a weapons-dealing corporation seeks to use them for its own sinister gain.

Forming one third of the ‘Depression Trilogy’ from Lars von Trier – A.K.A arthouse film’s biggest troll – this shocker opens with an infant child falling out of a window to his death while his oblivious parents (von Trier muses Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) get it on in the next room. With an exposition like that, you just know things are going to get pretty effed up.

In case things are getting a bit heavy for you in this hypothetical movie marathon, here’s an hilarious mockumentary horror from Kiwi comedy legends Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Rhys Darby, who play a trio of vampire housemates struggling to cope with the complexities of modern life.

Publicised as ‘The one that goes all the way’, this found footage exploitation horror from director Ruggero Deodato – which follows a team of American film-makers searching the Amazon basin for a previous expedition, who disappeared whilst investigating cannibal tribes – is still considered one of the most controversial films of all time; and for good reason. Find out why, if you’ve got the stomach for it.

More on Amazon

10 movies to watch on Amazon Prime Instant Video this Halloween

Now, allow us to present to you the best that Amazon Prime Instant Video has to offer for those seeking a spook or a scream from their screen. Whether you’re into the big-star blockbusters or lesser known gems, the good folks at Amazon have you covered this Halloweek!

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1. It Follows (2014)

The latest from indie filmmaker David Robert Mitchell, this coming-of-age horror literally ‘follows’ too-cool-for-college student Jay (Maika Monroe), who becomes haunted by a supernatural entity that can take on any form after sleeping with her afflicted boyfriend for the first time. Truly creepy and original stuff!

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2. The Conjuring (2013)

Described by director James Wan as ‘the Poltergeist of our generation’, this box office smash follows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) as they try to help a family terrorised by a dark presence dwelling in their farmhouse.

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3. Hannibal (2001)

As much as we love Mads Mikkelsen, Anthony Hopkins is the boss when it comes to portraying Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who in this Ridley Scott-directed classic has enjoyed seven years since escaping from custody by eating his way across Europe. Co-starring the ‘deLecterble’ Julianne Moore and Gary Oldman.

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4. Frozen (2010)

Probably not the one you’re thinking of, but much better than that Disney nonsense, if you ask us. X-Men Iceman Shawn Ashmore is back on frosty form as Joe, who gets stranded with two friends (Kevin Zegers, Emma Bell) on a chairlift high above ground after the ski resort they’re visiting closes for the night. Expect amazingly entertaining scenes featuring wolves, snapped shins, and urine. If that doesn’t intrigue you, nothing will.

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5. Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014)

It wouldn’t be a Halloween movie list without some zombies, so here’s an Aussie action-horror that’s surprisingly fresh and original, with such lovely touches as the discovery that zombie blood can be used as a substitute for gasoline. Think Mad Max meets Dawn of the Dead.

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6. The Order (2003)

Speaking of the Antipodean, if you’ve ever wished to see Heath Ledger as a sexy renegade priest, this is the film for you! Written and directed by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Legend), The Order explores the horrors we all know exist within the Church, via a secret religious order called The Carolingians.

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7. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

The Tim Burton musical immortalised by that bit in The Office U.S... Seriously though, Johnny Depp puts on a bloody good show as the razor-wielding singing barber whose unlucky customers find themselves destined for Mrs Lovett’s meat pie shop.

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8. Clown (2014)

Horror bad boy Eli Roth steps in front of the camera as the terrifying ‘Frowny the Clown’ in this supernatural thriller about a loving father who becomes possessed by the clown suit he wears for his son’s birthday party. Amazing fun at a snappy 100 minutes long.

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9. Haunter (2013)

While we wish this were a feature length film about the geometrical ghost Pokémon of the same name, it’s actually about an emo teenage ghost in the form of Abigail Breslin, who tries to protect a young girl and her family from a dead serial killer who can possess the living. It sounds stupid because it is, but it’s pretty damn enjoyable. Here’s Breslin tootin’ on a clarinet. Don’t ask…

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10. Dream House (2011)

We were tempted to make this a list of nine, but figured what the heck, we may as well throw this one in. Someone might be interested in watching Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts in a psychological thriller that’s well below their station.

More on Breaking Bad

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: 15 times TV was more gory than the movies

WARNING: The following piece contains graphic moving images that some (most) readers may find disturbing.

With Halloween upon us this weekend, the internet is awash with lists of scream and squeal inducing movies. But did anyone stop to remember that television has become ever more graphic, gruesome, and downright disturbing than its bigger brother in recent years? If you can stomach it, have a scroll through our gallery of deliciously gory TV moments that had viewers losing their minds (and a few nights’ sleep, to boot). From lawnmowers to bathtubs and nipples in gift wrap, we’ve got a bag full of tasty TV treats for you twisted children to feast on. Honestly, how do they get away with this shit?

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1. Spartacus face-off.

Is there a better way to assert your dominance in a crowded rebel camp than by slicing off the face of the giant German leader Sedullus? Also, a fitting end to a horrible character – go Spartacus!

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2. Scream Queens gardening.

We’d expect nothing less from twisted mastermind Ryan Murphy than a garden full of screaming sorority sisters buried up to their necks in soil getting blended up by a lawnmower. We give you Exhibit B:

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3. Breaking Bad bathtub.

Walt and Jesse’s first attempt at body disposal didn’t end too neatly when the latter decided to melt their victim in acid in a bathtub, rather than the optimal plastic barrel. Needless to say, the acid burnt through the bath and ceiling, leaving half-melted body parts strewn all over the floor. A lesson in real life chemistry if ever we saw one!

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4. Gotham eye scoop.

We absolutely hate Fish Mooney, so it was pretty hilarious when she scooped out her own eyeball with a spoon and then proceeded to smush it with her own shoe. Why, you ask? We still can’t think of a satisfactory explanation, besides her wanting two different coloured eyes like David Bowie.

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5. Game of Thrones head crush.

We might not have expected the Viper to overpower the Lannisters’ enormous medieval muscleman Gregor Clegane, but we did hope for an ending a little more dignified for Oberyn, who had his skull squished to the point of explosion.

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6. Mad Men nipple box.

‘She’s just not that into you!’ – is what somebody should’ve said to Mad Men‘s Michael Ginsberg before he cut his own nipple off and presented it to Peggy in a neat lil’ gift box. Surprise!

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7. Hannibal nose meal.

There are too many horribly gory Hannibal scenes to count on two hands. A cello and a totem pole definitely spring to mind for our top three worst moments, but this one’s definitely the most talked about.

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8. The Knick baby grab.

Obviously nothing’s scarier than the world’s most bloodthirsty monsters; doctors! Turn of the century medical drama The Knick is absolutely brimming with blood and guts. Most haunting of all for we female viewers was probably this horrific barehanded excavation of an unconscious woman’s stomach for an unborn baby. Did we seriously need this in our memory banks? Thanks guys 🙂

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9. The Strain alien autopsy.

Everything in The Strain is pretty horrible, but if we had to choose the most gif-able gross bit, we’d probably go for this delightful autopsy scene. Yummy!!

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10. Penny Dreadful breakthrough.

Frankenstein’s Creature is such a jerk. Here he is tearing an unsuspecting Proteus in half with his bare hands.

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11. True Blood spine chiller.

Ripping out someone’s spine on live TV like it’s nothing? Oh yes he did. Of course, we’re talking about Russell Edgington interrupting a live news broadcast to kill the anchor in front of a shocked audience. Just as humans and vamps were learning to get along… *Sigh*

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12. Hemlock Grove werewolf transformation.

Okay, somebody remind me why we watch this show again? Here’s a notoriously gross scene from The ‘Grove, in which we learn about the werewolf transformation procedure in eye-popping detail.

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13. Bones face splat.

What good is a list of gore-based entertainment without Bones? This scene in which a married couple gets their car stuck in a muddy ditch, resulting in half a dead guy’s face ending up on the husband’s shirt, is just too amazing.

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14. The Walking Dead zombie split.

What kind of milk does a decaying zombie drink? Half-and-half! Haha! Seriously though, this scene was pretty gross. WTF.

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15. Fargo minced meat.

It’s true what they say – there could be absolutely anything in that burger you’re eating. Here’s proof in the form of affable butcher Ed Blomquist mincing up the par-frozen remains of crazed killer Rye Gerhardt.

More on Film

Our top Halloween movies & TV shows on Netflix

Oh I wish it could be Halloween everyday…

Are you mad about horror? We are! Whether its monsters, zombies, ghosts or gore that get your blood rushing, the good people at Netflix have you sorted this October with their vast library of freaky films and shocking shows. So if you’re in the mood for a fright-fest this weekend or beyond, look no further than our handy guide to Netflix’s Halloween programming.